First of all, I apologize for the lack of post last Friday but I wasn't home.
But now let's get to the tag!
The lovely author Claribel Ortega created a book tag about diversity in literature and in the BookTube community. And there was no way I was going to pass the chance to answer the amazing questions. So let's just get right into it!
- Why is diversity important to you?
Diversity is important (or at least should be important) to everyone. If novels are diverse, everyone can see themselves in them. Like me for example. Yes, I am white. But I'm bisexual. And that's the main reason why I appreciate diversity in books. It's rare to see bisexual girls as main characters but I'm really hoping we get more.
- What was the last diverse title you read?
I've been participating in #DiversityDecBingo so every single book I've read this month was diverse. The last one I read fit the "Neurodiversity" square of the board and it was The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I really loved it.
- What are some of your favorite diverse titles?
I will answer this question with my three favorite books that I've read this year. First of all an honorable mention to Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld which has a demisexual female main character. My third favorite book of 2016 was Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell where we have a poor female main character and a biracial male main character. The second book that I enjoyed the most in 2016 was Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire with a asexual female main character. And my favorite book of 2016 (as well as my all-time favorite book) was Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.
- If you could choose one movie or TV show with diverse representation to become a book series which would it be?
Definitely Freeform's The Fosters. It talks about a lesbian couple who have adopted children. We have a lot of people of color representation (the twins Mariana and Jesus are Latinx, 1/2 of the lesbian couple Lena is biracial) as well as LGBTQ+ representation (Jude is bisexual/gay *it hasn't been specified I believe*, Cole is transgender). If it where to become a book series I would most likely binge read it all.
- If you're a writer do you include marginalized people in your books?
I only have 2 WIP in this moment but both have marginalized people. My fantasy novel has a bisexual female main character, a black bisexual female character and a lesbian female side character. As for my contemporary, since it takes place in a alternative world where being straight is taken as something bad, 90% of the character fit somewhere in the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
- Is there a particular identity or experience you wished was touched more in fiction?
I think that poverty in a Western setting is something that we don't get a lot (if at all) so I think we should get more of that. I would also appreciate more bisexual female main characters.
- Do you think diversity is important to BookTube/BookBlog?
Definitely, yes. Our viewers/readers keep up with our work in order to know our opinions. And if we are diverse in any way it helps them to know how we see books that touch us differently than it does to the majorities.
- What are some of your favorite blogs or resources about diversity?
Besides some people over at Twitter when it comes to recommendations I don't actually know/search for blogs/websites.
And that's it for today. I am writing and editing a few reviews at the moment which I hope will be uploaded this week so look forward to that!
Don't forget to read as diversely as possible!
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
0 comments